Quick ? on OM cameras.

leica M2 fan

leica M2 fan

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Do any of the OM series (film only) cameras have an Off switch? I love my OM 4 but it doesn't and I would like to have one with the ON-Off switch. TIA.
 
The problem with the on-off switch on an OM2 is that it's very easy to forget to switch on the camera when you're in a hurry, and then your exposure is all over the shop. Harder to miss the lens cap.
 
ruby.monkey said:
The problem with the on-off switch on an OM2 is that it's very easy to forget to switch on the camera when you're in a hurry, and then your exposure is all over the shop. Harder to miss the lens cap.
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I do this exact thing with my OM-2 constantly and it annoys the hell out of me ... they should have made the camera so that the shutter won't actually work with the switch off!

The OM-1 is the superior camera IMO ... I use mine in preference to my OM-2 nine times out of ten.
 
I was the same Keith,when I sold them,the OM2n was like new and the OM1 was well used.A real classic of a camera,the only thing that used to annoy me was the cheap feeling asa dial ........Neil.
 
It's like having a lens cap on my M3 - I've trained myself to check before shooting, but every now and then I forget (and usually at the worst possible moment).

But there's not much I won't forgive for the sake of that gorgeous viewfinder. :)
 
Strange, I never forget to turn it on. Probably because it's on all the time I think there might be opportunities, only off on the shelf.
 
Keith said:
I do this exact thing with my OM-2 constantly and it annoys the hell out of me ... they should have made the camera so that the shutter won't actually work with the switch off!

The OM-1 is the superior camera IMO ... I use mine in preference to my OM-2 nine times out of ten.
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Keith
How so ? I am considering an OM to augment my M3 and M2. My SLR at present is a Pentax ME super .Whilst I am happy with, it I feel that the OM may well be better built with better glass.

Mike
 
Michael Markey said:
Keith
How so ? I am considering an OM to augment my M3 and M2. My SLR at present is a Pentax ME super .Whilst I am happy with, it I feel that the OM may well be better built with better glass.

Mike
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I think if you have an M2 or M3 the OM-1 is the natural SLR companion ... it's a very simple camera and possesses a purity that matches the M design perfectly IMO! The only advantage an OM-2 has over an OM-1 is the AE function which of course makes the camera battery dependant because of the electronic shutter and you don't get that beautifully simple match needle meter in the viewfinder.

The OM-1 really is that good, it's the M3 of SLR's. I have a rather tastefully worn black one that I bought off eBay a year or so ago, the meter has gone a bit weird and it has an occasional advance problem. I made the decision to to send it to Camtech in the USA to get it CLA'd which will cost me twice what I paid for the camera originally but that's no big deal considering I never intend selling it! :)
 
With the om2, I'm not sure if many of you guys know, the reason you can still fire the shutter when the switch is "off" is because the designers wanted to have a backup ae mode for those moments when you see something and don't have the time to switch the camera on before taking the picture. Even if the switch is off on the om2, it will still correctly expose a picture if you trip the shutter.

It can be a really good thing.

I find the om2n a better shooter in practise with the ae and the good metering. The om1 is soooo classic and sleek and basic though! Minimalist in the best possible way. In same ways I actually preferred it to my m6 a year or so ago.
 
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Found some proof - from:
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/olympusom1n2/om2/htmls/index.htm

"However, Olympus designed the camera in such a way to be more responsive to photographer's needs, that is even if the lever is set at "OFF" position, it will still permit shutter release operative in auto exposure mode."

and

"The large and prominent lever is the master key to multi automation. At "OFF" all camera electrical circuits are extinguished except that a special safety circuit is activated when the shutter is released to give fail-safe auto exposures in a normal range. "

I think 1/30th may be the bottom shutter-speed at this setting to prevent the camera from becoming inadvertently inoperative during a long shutter speed (lens cap on or similar)

I thought that was a really cool feature and it saved my ass a few times with some pictures.
 
Easy test - take out the battery. I suspect it's a back-up single fixed speed, mechanically controlled, for those times when Mama Electron lets you down.
 
Ahh ... so the camera will operate within certain parameters but probaly not extreme ones.

I have noticed a few times that after inadvertantly firing of a few frames with the switch off on the OM-2 I couldn't really identify which ones they were when looking at the negative ... expecting to see a few disaster exposures!

Damned clever camera and just gone up even further in my ratings! :p
 
fdigital is right. That's what the manual says. I didn't know this when I first did this. I took the first decent photo of my wife in years only to discover my new (given to me by my father) OM2n was switched off. It didn't matter. You don't get the viewfinder read out but the exposure is correct, except if the appropriate shutter speed would be longer than 1/30s. A very well conceived camera indeed. Love it.
 
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